Former governor honors miners

WINDBER - The community of Windber greeted the Mark Schweiker, the former governor and keynote speaker of the 4th Annual Miners' Memorial Day celebration, like an old friend.

Schweiker was invited to address the crowd after his outstanding efforts last year in overseeing the rescue of the nine Quecreek miners.

On Saturday, when his car entered the street in front of Miner's Park where the program was held, officials and well wishers alike rushed to shake his hand or tell him "good job," as he made his way to the speaker's platform. Once there, Sandy Pritt, the president of the Eureka Coal Heritage Foundation, praised him.

She referred to Schweiker as the "courageous general" who "gathered the troops, comforted the families. He worked and supported the workers, and most of all he never gave up."

Pritt also praised the "Miracle Nine who bravely used their knowledge and experience to form an united front that allowed them to face unbelievable odds and unbearable hardships with faith strength and dignity to support one another, never loosing faith that their comrades were coming to get them. Such is the legacy of a coalminer - tough, resilient, caring, dedicated. These are the men we honor today. The miner of today does the miner of yesteryear proud."

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Sandy Pritts also gave a tribute to U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, who was the honorary chairperson for the event. She said he was unable to attend the festivities, because he was in Washington doing the nation's business. Speaking on his behalf was his assistant Mark Pritts.

Mayor of Windber Arthur R. Palumbo presented the key to the city of Windber to the Murtha, for his continued support of the town of Windber and the Windber Coal Heritage Center and its Quecreek exhibition.

"It's an honor to make this presentation," he said. Palumbo asked for a round of applause for co-chairs of the event, Carol Burnworth and Wendy Spencer, who he praised for their work in putting the event together.

The women stressed that the weekend was not one for just the Quecreek Miners but instead one for all those who toiled in the mines.

As the keynote speaker and parade grand marshal, Palumbo gave the former governor Mark Schweiker a key to the city.

"In appreciation to your dedication to the Quecreek Miners, their families and their rescuers and all Pennsylvania's. This guy is all-state," he said with a laugh.

After a rousing round of applause and introduction by Christopher Barkley, director of Windber Coal Heritage Center, Schweiker took the podium and joked that he came out for a lot of important reasons, but most of all to "show you that I do own another shirt."

Schweiker said he had just "come up" from the mine rescue site. "It was the first time I was back since we literally brought up Mark, who was the last miner brought up. We were running a little late because it's a rather special place."

He spoke about the Friday night into Saturday during the rescue when his wife Kathy called five minutes after 5 a.m. and told him in the conversation that people were talking about him wearing the same shirt every day.

"My Irish kind of came to the surface and I told her I don't need that right now," he said.

He then went back to the rescue site and asked a fellow worker if he thought anyone noticed that he is wearing the same clothes every day?

And he replied, "just millions."

He then knew something had to be done so he went over to the Van Husen outlet at Georgian Place to purchase a new one. Even there, he said, a fellow shopper told him he was doing a good job but added, "You really should change the shirt."

"It was one of those light hearted moments," he said.

On the serious side, the former politician talked about why he was compelled to come. "I felt as compelled as you do to be here," he said.

Pennsylvania's heritage is wrapped up in industry, especially mining and the "people who bring up the coal. We must recognize that heritage. We must contemplate that legacy and we must respect those who labor in the mines today and some of those who make up the 18 are sprinkled throughout the crowd and we should remember their grit and determination."

Schweiker said it is important to "come together" one weekend every year to talk about that legacy and "effort that is in your mind and in your gut." He said the museum will preserve the facts about what happened but people must remember it.

"It's a very difficult and at times, unsafe occupation," he said.

If you would talk to people involved in the rescue they will tell you how their lives have changed, as did his.

"It was a soul-changing and life affecting 77 hours," he said.

He said he would never forget the people who "saw to it, that the miners could live."

"It's nothing short than a miracle that all 18 lived," he said, commending "so many teams" who worked to get the miners out.